Chicago · Licensed center
Spark Montessori
A Montessori center in Chicago, licensed for 70 children. The state cited something at 11 of 11 routine visits (Chicago-area centers: about 5 in 6).
Medium center. Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.
How they teach
Montessori
“Spark Montessori's Primary Program is the core to a Montessori education and is designed to meet the unique needs of children aged 3 through 6 years old.”In their words. sparkmontessori.org, August 2026
One of 15 Chicago-area providers that describe a Montessori approach, out of 129 that describe any approach at all.
Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, ratios and staff, a typical day, sick and biting policies.
What the state has found
Routine visits: 11 of 11 cited something
Across Chicago-area centers, the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits (19,088 visits).
From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- January 16, 2026
- On file
- 11 visits since March 2019 — all of them cited findings
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was February 16, 2026. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.
Jan 2026 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · January 16, 2026
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation substantiated
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2025 Monitoring visit 8 findings
Monitoring visit · February 28, 2025
General Requirements for Personnel
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) through (i) · Violation corrected · Rule cited again
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(f) · 407.100(i)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Rule cited again
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d) · Violation corrected
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2024 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · February 14, 2024
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (4)(a) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation substantiated
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
Substitutes
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a) · Violation substantiated
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) · Violation substantiated
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 5 findings
Monitoring visit · January 23, 2023
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (e)(4) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(e)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation substantiated
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2020 Monitoring visit 12 findings
Monitoring visit · November 5, 2020
Health Requirements for Children
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(4) · 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g) · Violation corrected
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m) · Violation corrected
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2019 Monitoring visit 10 findings
Monitoring visit · November 12, 2019
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(e)(4)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) through (3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(f)(3)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected on site
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected on site
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · Violation corrected
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · September 26, 2019
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(e)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2019 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · July 16, 2019
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
May 2019 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · May 28, 2019
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) through (3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(f)(3)
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Apr 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · April 25, 2019
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Mar 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · March 14, 2019
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(4)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
Cited: FHSEC305
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
A day here
- Hours
- 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
- Schedule
- full-week (5 day), part-week (2-3 day, Toddler only), and half-day (Primary) (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Details
- Phone
- 7737907155
- Website
- sparkmontessori.org
- Address
- 4326 N California Ave
- License
- license issued (il)
- Ages
- 15 months through 6 years old
Do you run Spark Montessori? Shortlist has no tuition, ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.
Sources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked August 2026 · sparkmontessori.org
State record
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
A day here
- Hours, Schedule — Checked August 2026 · sparkmontessori.org
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 · sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "SPARK MONTESSORI" under Provider Name and 60618 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 574839).
- Website — Checked August 2026 · sparkmontessori.org
- Ages — Checked August 2026 · sparkmontessori.org